Masato Uchishiba of Japan celebrates after defeating Benjamin Darbelet of France during the men-66 kg final of judo at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Uchishiba won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Guo Dayue) Photo Gallery>>>

     BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Masato Uchishiba won the title of the men's light-weight class judo at the Beijing Olympic Games Sunday evening, giving the first long-waited gold to the Japanese judo squad.

    Uchishiba, 30, scored an ippon by a shoulder throw within 68 seconds in the final on Benjamin Darbelet of France.

    The Japanese judoka who won the Olympic gold medal in the men's 66kg-class in Athens had experienced a depressing way toward the Beijing Games, finishing second place in the 2005 world championships and fifth of the Asian competition in 2008.

    "It has been a long time since I won an international title," Uchishiba admitted after the Olympic final.

    The Japanese judoka said he never stopped training no matter how his performance was before the Beijing Olympics and had been dreaming of the triumph in Beijing.

    "I am always confident of Japanese judo and my success today will send a message to the world that Japan is still strong in judo." he said, adding that he had trained in France and studied his French rival in many aspects not only in judo.

    Benjamin Darbelet, however, said he felt tired and slow-moving in the preliminary bouts and felt the best condition in the final during which he hurt his neck.

    Cuba's Yordanis Arencibia defeated repechage winner Russia's Alim Gadanov to receive a bronze medal after the Cuban was ousted by Uchishiba by two waza-ari (equals to ippon) in the semifinal.

    Chol Min Pak from Democratic People's Republic of Korea gained another bronze medal from Mirali Sharipov, Uzbekistan, after he lost to the French judoka Darbelet.